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JSC warns Magistrate’s husband

MIRROR REPORTER

CHIREDZI – In what can be a serious indictment of corruption on the bench, the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) has been forced to summon an unemployed husband of a Chiredzi Magistrate who has been going around soliciting for bribes from people with cases before the courts.Chief Magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe confirmed the developments in an exclusive interview with The Mirror this week and disclosed the names of the magistrate and her husband.He said the husband promised people with cases before the courts that his wife would give them favourable rulings if they 'greased his hands'."We received reports to the effect that the husband of one of our magistrates in Chiredzi was soliciting for bribes in the name of his wife. We established that it is true and we called the two and warned them that the habit must stop at once or there would be serious consequences for both of them," said Guvamombe.The two were told that any further reports would see the issue being reported to the Police and stern disciplinary action taken against the wife."We told the wife to control her husband or she would be in serious trouble with us," said Guvamombe.There has over the years been many reports of corruption against magistrates stationed at Chiredzi and disciplinary hearings have been held with some having since been transferred. Many people have complained that they have lost cases, lawsuits and thousands of dollars due to corrupt magistrates at Chiredzi.Some companies were liquidated while people were left broke as corrupt magistrates were given to biased rulings.There are reports that one senior magistrate who has since been transferred to another province received new furniture from a well known former trade unionist in order for him to deliver favourable ruling.A source told The Mirror that there have been many cases of alleged corruption against the magistrate whose husband has since been cautioned by JSC. Some of the complaints are still pending.The source said there are allegations that although the complaints have been coming for quite some time now, the said magistrate has all along been protected by a senior based at the Chief Magistrate's office in Harare.It is also understood that the undue protection has been demoralised her workmates who only could watch underhand things happening.The same magistrate recently had one of her rulings trashed by High Court Judge who said the case was not properly handled.top story